The answer, if your baby is following her own upward growth trajectory pretty evenly, is yes.
Whether your baby is a doze and feed baby who likes to take two hours on a feed (like my son) or an
in-and-out guzzler like my daughter, who was too much of a wriggler to enjoy hours of snuggling,
they will let you know when they need more milk.
Unlike bottle-fed babies, whose mothers should follow the number of feeds as guided by
a manufacturers packing, breastfed babies are not neccessarily taking in the same amount of milk
each time they feed. But whether you are attempting a strict feeding regime or giving the breast on
a loose timetable and ad-hoc when your baby shows a need (like I did), you should not worry that
you might over- or under-feed your child as your baby will stop feeding when she is full. (Don't
worry if your baby brings up a little milk after a feed, this is quite normal.)
Increased milk to meet the need
You might find there are periods when your baby suddenly feeds longer and harder. Growth spurts are
usually the cause, and will come and go without being a cause for concern. You should, however,
always keep an eye on your milk production. Your breasts will begin to produce more milk if the
demand increases and if this suddenly slows down dramatically, you should make sure you ease your
breasts back to a lower production level (by massaging them when they are full, or a restrainted
amount of expressing). Once you are through the first few weeks of feeding, your breasts will find
it far easier to adjust to changes of demand in feeding.
What to look out for
If your baby is feeding regularly but is not following her weight trajectory (that is, a reasonable
path on a weight chart which is in relation to her own birth weight, rather than comparing
her size to that of another baby of a similar age who might be smaller or bigger than she is) or
waking during the night for more feeds for a sustainted period rather than for the odd one or two
nights, discuss this with your health visitor or doctor.
Your diet
Make sure you keep up your calories (you need about 500 more calories than usual each day if you
are breastfeeding), the quality of your diet and drink plenty of water as these will all help
maintain a good milk supply.
